The Habit of Using Coupons: Guest Post by Heidi Stearns

Heidi is a friend of my heart. We share many common interests. We homeschool together, attend the same church, have taught children’s choir together. Even our children match in ages – and are best of friends. Plus, we love to save money. May I introduce to you the one everyone admiringly calls…

The Coupon Queen.

I am blessed to be able to share with you what I have learned about saving money because I believe that as Christians, we should be wise spenders. Everything we have is a gift from God and how we spend our money should honor Him. We need to take control of our money. Being good stewards requires us to plan ahead and make good choices in how we use the gifts God has given us and being responsible with those gifts will be pleasing to Him.

Proverbs 27:23-24 says “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.”
Luke 16:10 says “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much”.

Like many homeschool families, my family struggles to make finances work on a single income and at times it can be is very difficult. As a family of five, I was budgeting over $200 a week on groceries, that is over 25% of my family’s total income. I was willing to try anything to help my family save money. A little over a year ago I was introduced to a new way of saving money, an idea that would change my family’s finances and prepare us for even the most difficult financial times. After 12 months of using this “new” system, on average I spend less than $70 every week on groceries and have a stockpile built up that can provide for my family for a month. Couponing has made a huge financial impact on my family and the blessing of security and peace that comes along with it is priceless.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:12-13

When making your grocery list, how many of you walk in to your kitchen and make a list of everything you are out of or almost out of and then head off to the grocery store? This is one of the biggest mistakes we make as shoppers and it is exactly what your neighborhood grocer wants you to do. In order to overcome this traditional shopping list, you must first learn the sales cycles of the items you are buying.

The sales cycle for most items is six weeks. The price of products fluctuate greatly from week to week. For example, a box of cereal can go for over $4 to less than $1.50 in a six week cycle. With a traditional list, you are at the mercy of the grocer, if it is $4 the week you need it, then you are going to pay $4. Learn the sales cycles of the products you buy and you will never pay full price again! The idea is to purchase enough of that item at its lowest cost to get you through until it is at its lowest again. It takes time to learn the cycle of the products you buy, but once you do the savings will amaze you! One of the best ways to keep up with the sales cycles is to make a price book/list to record prices of frequently purchased items.
When making your weekly shopping list, scan the ads and match up your coupons to the sale prices. For example, you see that your favorite cereal is on sale this week for $1.99 and you have a coupon valued at $1, you will get a box of cereal for 99 cents! If you had used this same coupon the week before, you would have paid $4.29 minus $1 coupon and it still would have cost you over $3!

Meat and produce have fluctuating sales cycles as well, so this system works well for all of your grocery needs. You will also learn to plan your meals based on the weekly sales.
There are many blogs and websites available that offer weekly coupon matchups for your favorite stores. These are great time savers! Do the research and find one that works for you! Here are 2 of the most popular coupon matchup sites available:

• Southern Savers This site is my favorite couponing website. Jenny has lists for the major grocery and drug store chains in the southeast, as well as Target. She scans all of the weekly ads and matches the sales up with coupons to help you find the best deals. You can print your list with coupon match-ups directly from her website. She also has guides to help you if you are new to couponing.
• Coupon Mom This site features many of the national chains and includes Wal-Mart. This site uses spreadsheets of the coupon/sale matchups and has a searchable database of most available coupons. This site also offers additional help if you are new to couponing.

Coupons can be found in many different places, some are obvious, however some may be new to you. Here are the most popular places to find coupons:

• Newspaper Inserts The Atlanta Journal’s Sunday paper is available at most grocery stores on Saturday and Sunday. The smaller local papers have some, but not all of the inserts that are available in larger publications.
• Store Websites Check your favorite store’s website. Many stores either have coupons available to print or links to other coupon sites.
• Magazines Many of the women’s magazines available have coupons throughout. All You is a great magazine for coupons.
• Manufacturers Visit the websites of your favorite products, many have email newsletters; you sign up and they send coupons to your email address. Some will even send you samples and coupons in the mail. Give them a call and ask for coupons, this will also get you on a mailing list to receive coupons and samples.
• Blinkies and Tear pads These are coupons placed throughout the store near products, either in the little red boxes that blink or on tear pads.
• Peelies These coupons are found on packages and are designed to “peel” off and use.

Printable Coupon Websites:
www.coupons.com
www.smartsource.com
www.redplum.com

eCoupon Websites:
www.cellfire.com
www.shortcuts.com
www.kroger.com

This system of saving money is very overwhelming at first and takes some time to get used to, but you can do it! I promise if you invest the time and make a habit of using coupons, you will never have to pay full price again!

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21

Couponing Terminology:

$/$$ = money off when you spend x dollars
$1/1 = 1 dollar off the purchase of 1
$1/2 = 1 dollar off the purchase of 2
B2G1 = buy two, get one free
Blinkies = coupon dispensers located near products.
BOGO or B1G1 = buy one, get one free
Catalina = coupons that print at the register
ECB = Extra Care Bucks (CVS)
eQ = coupons that are loaded onto your Kroger Plus card
FLIP = Food Lion internet printable coupons
IP = internet printable

MQ = manufacturer’s coupon
OOP = out of pocket
Peelies = coupons that are stuck to products.
PG = Procter & Gamble coupon insert
Q = coupon
RP = Red Plum coupon insert
SCR = Single Check Rebate (Rite Aid)
SS = Smart Source coupon insert
Stacking = to use a MQ with a store Q or eQ
Tear Pad = coupons located near products.
wyb = when you buy

Additional Websites:
www.upromise.com – Sign up for an easy way to save money for college.
http://www.iheartsavingmoney.com/ – A great website to keep you up on internet deals, coupons, rebates and samples.
www.afewshortcuts.com – “Saving you time and money in the kitchen and at the store.”
www.iheartpublix.com – A website dedicated to Publix deals.
www.pgeverydaysolutions.com – This site has coupons, recipes, samples and more ways to stretch your budget!
Kraft Foods – Money-saving ideas from Kraft Foods
www.hillbillyhousewife.com – This is a great site for money-saving recipes and ideas on how to save money in your home.
http://www.becentsable.net/ – “provides a one-stop saving resource for families learning to save money and cut their household expense budget.”
www.clickcallmail.com –  Guide to General Mills promotions at Publix
http://www.homesolutionsnews.us/offers.shtml –  Special offers and coupons on home cleaning supplies.
Simple and Delicious – Special offers and coupons for ConAgra Foods products.
www.totallytarget.com –  A website dedicated to Target deals.